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CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Lands Spielberg As Director'!

Published at:  Aug 22, 2001 2:31:09 AM CDT

Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.

Well, it's about time...

I'm a big fan of the script for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, and I've been an active cheerleader for the project since first reading that script and reviewing it. At that point, Gore Verbinski was attached to direct. Since then, it's leapfrogged from director to director, with guys like Lasse Hallstrom and Cameron Crowe flirting with it and ultimately passing. According to today's VARIETY headline, Steven Spielberg himself is now stepping up to take over as director of the film.

Of course, just yesterday I was reading how it was an all-but-done deal that Spielberg would make MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA next...

This always happens with Spielberg, and I never believe anything until he rolls film. If he has indeed signed on for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, though, I'm ecstatic. I hope he is able to keep both Leonardo Di Caprio and James Gandolfini attached to the film, since they're both ideal for their roles.

I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this one...

"Moriarty" out.

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Readers Talkback

• Aug 22, 2001 3:21:49 AM CDT

  Noooooooooooooo!

  by themonk

  Spilberg will ruin this if his most recent works are anything to go by. He'll jut moralise and Frank Abingale Jnr will see the error of his ways, blah, blah, blah. In his book, Abingale comes across as a VERY arrogant (but likeable non-the-less) guy. i wonder if they'll change the ending...With Spielberg on board, thery're bound to...sigh.

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  Content Spilberg will ruin this if his most recent works are anything to go by. He'll jut moralise and Frank Abingale Jnr will see the error of his ways, blah, blah, blah. In his book, Abingale comes across as a VERY arrogant (but likeable non-the-less) guy. i wonder if they'll change the ending...With Spielberg on board, thery're bound to...sigh.

• Aug 22, 2001 3:28:05 AM CDT

  Indy 4 ?!!!

  by bluelou_boyle

  errrr, Ford is not getting any younger.

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  Content errrr, Ford is not getting any younger.

• Aug 22, 2001 3:46:12 AM CDT

  Memoirs of a talkbacker

  by talkbacktornado

  Steve's on ... Steve's off ... on ... off ... blahblahblah. This sux! Until I haven't seen Mr.Spielberg's X on the dotted line ... I believe it's false. tt out (tt's bringing the talkback-choir together. First hit record (based on a weird Monty Python tune) Steve should do Indy 4! So all sing along now: Steeeeeeeeeeeeve shouuuuld do Indy4 Indy4 Indy4...)

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  Content Steve's on ... Steve's off ... on ... off ... blahblahblah. This sux! Until I haven't seen Mr.Spielberg's X on the dotted line ... I believe it's false. tt out (tt's bringing the talkback-choir together. First hit record (based on a weird Monty Python tune) Steve should do Indy 4! So all sing along now: Steeeeeeeeeeeeve shouuuuld do Indy4 Indy4 Indy4...)

• Aug 22, 2001 3:57:59 AM CDT

  Aw Nuts!!

  by scrote

  ...the way things are goin' Spielberg'll have to do a CGI Indy4 movie, cos Harry F ain't ageing well at all. I just wanna see 'em do one last Jones movie before they all wobble off to a retirement home. There aren't enough cool B movies bein' made these days at all. Sheesh!

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  Content ...the way things are goin' Spielberg'll have to do a CGI Indy4 movie, cos Harry F ain't ageing well at all. I just wanna see 'em do one last Jones movie before they all wobble off to a retirement home. There aren't enough cool B movies bein' made these days at all. Sheesh!

• Aug 22, 2001 5:55:43 AM CDT

  I'm looking forward to this.

  by rabid_republican

  I know it's cool to Stephen Spielberg these days for his treatment of he material, but let me go out on a limb here and say this'll work. Sure, there's going to be some sappy moments, but if they can capture the arrogance and wry attitude of the main character, to build him up before he changes, I'll consider that worth the price of admission.

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  Subject

  Content I know it's cool to Stephen Spielberg these days for his treatment of he material, but let me go out on a limb here and say this'll work. Sure, there's going to be some sappy moments, but if they can capture the arrogance and wry attitude of the main character, to build him up before he changes, I'll consider that worth the price of admission.

• Aug 22, 2001 7:28:09 AM CDT

  "Catch Me If You Can" was based on the true life exploits about

  by uncapie

  Great book, but I don't see how they can do it, unless they make it a period piece set in the sixties and seventies. If they make it contemporary, the stuff that Abagnale pulled, just won't work in today's world.

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  Subject

  Content Great book, but I don't see how they can do it, unless they make it a period piece set in the sixties and seventies. If they make it contemporary, the stuff that Abagnale pulled, just won't work in today's world.

• Aug 22, 2001 9:53:21 AM CDT

  AI ending NOT happy

  by thechronic

  Anyone who thinks that the AI ending is happy needs to go see it again. The way it is communicated is sentimental happiness - but look at what is going on. The kid is living a lie. And he is happy because of one day? When he wakes up it is over forever. The great thing about AI is how the plot and structure COMPLETELY undercut the sentimentality. The sentimentality is essential for Kubrick's point. You intrinsically have this conflict between what we intellectually know is going on and what we feel. To me it is a masterpiece - the best thing Spielberg has done and one of my favorite Kubrick films. I think that it will take a few months before people re-see it and realize what is *really* going on. To me the third act is the most essential part of the film. It is what gives the rest of the film its meaning. This is definitely a Kubrick fairy tale with a Kubrick type of undercutting the 'happy endings' of Disney.

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  Subject

  Content Anyone who thinks that the AI ending is happy needs to go see it again. The way it is communicated is sentimental happiness - but look at what is going on. The kid is living a lie. And he is happy because of one day? When he wakes up it is over forever. The great thing about AI is how the plot and structure COMPLETELY undercut the sentimentality. The sentimentality is essential for Kubrick's point. You intrinsically have this conflict between what we intellectually know is going on and what we feel. To me it is a masterpiece - the best thing Spielberg has done and one of my favorite Kubrick films. I think that it will take a few months before people re-see it and realize what is *really* going on. To me the third act is the most essential part of the film. It is what gives the rest of the film its meaning. This is definitely a Kubrick fairy tale with a Kubrick type of undercutting the 'happy endings' of Disney.

• Aug 22, 2001 10:00:52 AM CDT

  more on Catch me if you Can

  by bob can

  I was just the other day wondering about this movie and how it is progressing. This is a movie I've been watching for awhile and was actually a project I've wanted to write myown script for, I remember hearing about Frank Abingale Jnr from a friend via a Focus on the Family tape of him sharing what he had done and how he found redemtion and salvation. I'm not a big fan of SS on this project, I'd rather see someone like Lasse Halstrom or Crowe or even Johnston or Coppola do, a director who is more actor based rather then technical based.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content I was just the other day wondering about this movie and how it is progressing. This is a movie I've been watching for awhile and was actually a project I've wanted to write myown script for, I remember hearing about Frank Abingale Jnr from a friend via a Focus on the Family tape of him sharing what he had done and how he found redemtion and salvation. I'm not a big fan of SS on this project, I'd rather see someone like Lasse Halstrom or Crowe or even Johnston or Coppola do, a director who is more actor based rather then technical based.

• Aug 22, 2001 10:36:10 AM CDT

  Catch Me If You Can

  by tengu

  I read the book in the early 80's and loved it. In 1984 while at the Univ. of Oklahoma, a buddy of mine attended a lecture given by Frank Abagnale (I could not attend due to my job, doh!) and at that time Frank announced there was going to be a movie based on his book with Dustin Hoffman as the star. After that I heard nothing. So after 17 years I'm glad that it looks like it's going to happen! I saw Frank here in Tulsa one time where he lives with his family. Almost didn't recognize him. Hope the movie is out soon.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content I read the book in the early 80's and loved it. In 1984 while at the Univ. of Oklahoma, a buddy of mine attended a lecture given by Frank Abagnale (I could not attend due to my job, doh!) and at that time Frank announced there was going to be a movie based on his book with Dustin Hoffman as the star. After that I heard nothing. So after 17 years I'm glad that it looks like it's going to happen! I saw Frank here in Tulsa one time where he lives with his family. Almost didn't recognize him. Hope the movie is out soon.

• Aug 22, 2001 2:16:51 PM CDT

  Lord Darken

  by boba_fett

  Air Force One grossed $173 million at the U.S. box office, What Lies Beneath grossed $155 million. Box office successes indeed.
  
  -Fett

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  Content Air Force One grossed $173 million at the U.S. box office, What Lies Beneath grossed $155 million. Box office successes indeed. -Fett

• Aug 22, 2001 11:29:50 PM CDT

  I sense Spielberg freaking out

  by heywood jablomie

  ....at the commercial failure of AI. I hope this isn't a plunge into another Hook/Always/Last Crusade period for him. The fact that he turned down the cool Memoirs of a Geisha to do this kind of HBO docudrama thing...to me, not good.

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  Subject

  Content ....at the commercial failure of AI. I hope this isn't a plunge into another Hook/Always/Last Crusade period for him. The fact that he turned down the cool Memoirs of a Geisha to do this kind of HBO docudrama thing...to me, not good.

• Aug 23, 2001 3:14:37 AM CDT

  COMING ATTRACTIONS REPORTED THIS 2 WEEKS AGO; WHAT THE HELL HAS

  by brainz

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